Minigolf at Leopoldpark in Blankenberge

Miniature Golf courses at Leopoldpark in Blankenberge, Belgium.

Emily recently visited three courses and a new country on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when she was in Blankenberge, Belgium.

What a sight for minigolf fans

The seaside resort is home to a Minigolf course, a Crazy Golf and a Snookergolf layout. The three 18-hole courses at Leopoldpark became the 710th, 711th and 712th visited on the tour.

The Minigolf course (left) and Crazy Golf course (right) at Leopoldpark

Photos of the Minigolf course at Leopoldpark, Blankenberge.

Photos of the Crazy Golf course at Leopoldpark, Blankenberge.

Photos of the Snookergolf Billiards course at Leopoldpark, Blankenberge.

We've got some great old postcards from Blankenberge that show the miniature golf courses which used to be at Leopoldpark. It's great to know there are still courses on the same spot today.

The whole place looks marvelously bright and colourful. We'll definitely have to return for a fair few games on the miniature golf courses and petanque in Blankenberge.

The Petanque terrain at Leopoldpark in Blankenberge

Visit the Leopoldpark website for details of opening times and prices.

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A treat for dull men

A photographic treat for members of the Dull Men's Club.

There's a double-whammy treat for members of the Dull Men's Club in this photo I took while on a recent visit to the post box on Twining Brook Road in Cheadle Hulme.

A post box AND a lost glove

The Dull Men’s Club is a place where dull men (and women who like dull men) share thoughts and experiences, free from glitz and glamour, free from pressures to be in and trendy - free instead to enjoy simple, ordinary things. The club's mission statement is “It’s OK to be dull”.

One of my fellow DMC members has documented each and every post box in the UK on his travels, while another - who also features in the Dull Men's Club 2017 calendar - photographs lost gloves.

Related blog posts:
- Dull Men's Club

Link:
- Dull Men's Club website

Jump Heaven Trampoline Park in Stockport

There's a Trampoline Park with Ninja Warrior and Total Wipeout in Stockport!

Exploring the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport this weekend we spotted Jump Heaven on Pepper Road in Hazel Grove - it's the UK's first trampoline, Ninja Warrior, Parkour and Total Wipeout arena. It looks marvellous.

Emily and I have done a number of sports, games and activities on our travels - with aerial extreme high ropes and indoor skydiving being two of the more energetic pursuits we've tried. I was awful at both.

I've seen trampoline dodgeball before and asked if they ever do that at Jump Heaven - they do, which is great news as that's the only thing I'd probably be half decent at. Although I do want to have a go on the Total Wipeout and Ninja Warrior courses.

Check out the Jump Heaven Trampoline Park website for more info, opening times and prices. You can also see the arena on the Jump Heaven YouTube Channel, Facebook and Twitter.

The Jump Super Pass costs £10 per hour - which seems like a good price to bounce around the different zones.

Goolfy black light indoor Minigolf course in Blankenberge

Spotting the Goolfy black light indoor Minigolf course in Blankenberge.

While in Blankenberge, Belgium Emily spotted the Goolfy black light indoor Minigolf course. Sadly it wasn't yet open to play on the day.

Goolfy looks quite a character!

The Goolfy black light indoor Minigolf course in Blankenberge became the 713th course visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Link:
- Goolfy black light minigolf website

Related blog posts
- Blankenberge
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Hellas Mini Golf course in Lardos Village, Rhodes

Earlier this year my cousin Elaine and her family had a holiday in Rhodes, Greece and while there had a game of Crazy Golf on the 18-hole Hellas Mini Golf course in Lardos Village, near Lindos.

Hellas Mini Golf is an 18-hole Swedish Felt Miniature Golf course - one of the toughest types of course to master

Ryan teeing-off

Ronnie on the green of a very long minigolf hole!

In the Lindos Rhodes Minigolf Championship my cousin Ronnie won, with cousin Ronnie runner-up, Jamie 3rd and Elaine picking up the wooden spoon.

Check out the Hellas Mini Golf course website for more info.

Links:
- Hellas Mini Golf course website
- Hellas Mini Golf course on Facebook

Harry Putter and the Magical Crazy Golf course

A visit to the Harry Putter and the Magical Crazy Golf course at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe.

While visiting family and friends in Ipswich we made our traditional trip to the nearby seaside town of Felixstowe, and of course we had an obligatory game of Crazy Golf at Manning's Amusement arcade.

Manning's Art Deco amusement arcade in Felixstowe

The great thing about visiting Felixstowe is that you know you can pretty much always get a game at the indoor Adventure Golf course at Manning's amusement arcade on Sea Road.

Emily playing hole one. I don't think either of us have ever putted into the cup on the right of the rotating green

We've been playing the course since November 2006 and it was the 5th course we ever visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. It was also the first indoor minigolf course we played.

Hole 2 never gets any easier to play! Although Emily got a very good 3 on the whole, while I score a 5

Since our first visit the course has had a few upgrades, mild refurbishments and name changes - it was called 'Golf FX' when we first played and was more recently known as 'Magical Golf' and 'Magical Golf FX'.

The indoor miniature golf course has a real mixture of themes. From jungle to medieval and even a 'space cave'!

The biggest surprise on our latest visit came when we saw the new scorecard as the course has morphed into a bootleg of Harry Potter!

Wow!

Check out the player names

Inside the course itself there have been a few improvements, with new felt on some of the holes. While two of the holes upstairs have been completely changed to look more like a library!

This isn't how the hole used to look

The hole used to have a rope border and some 'Disney' artwork on the walls

Emily playing in 2016

Emily playing the same hole in 2009

In our latest match-up on the 13-hole course I won with a score of 40 to Emily's 49.

We both noticed the 2000 BC stone for the first time on our walk downstairs!

The 11th hole is very tricky indeed

The 'lucky' 13th hole has undergone some changes too

It now offers two holes to putt into

Each with their own benefit / demerit

A view of hole one from the reception area

The course is still only £2 per player and it's a good fun layout to play. Check out the Manning's Amusements website for more info.

It's been £2 to play since we first had a round in 2006

The wizard's shelf

A nice touch

The rules

Related blog posts:
- Felixstowe
- Golf FX
- Magical Golf FX
- Manning's Amusements
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Link:
- Manning's Amusements

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Minigolf rankings for 2016

The national tour minigolf season is over and Emily and I are still ranked in the BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit 2015-2016.

I am ranked in 40th position with 2,825 ranking points, while Emily is in 62nd place with 1,462 points. A total of 149 players are listed in the rankings.

Minigolfers Emily and Richard Gottfried

In the World Minigolf Sport Federation international rankings Emily is ranked 102nd in the Women's ranking list, while I am 408th in the Men's list.

Emily Putting at the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Southend

This season we competed in a number of independent miniature golf competitions including the:
- Surrey Invitational Tournament - Richard = 3rd, Emily = 4th
- Southend Pier Invitational Tournament - Richard = 1st, Emily = 9th
- Southend Arnold Palmer Classic - Richard = 1st, Emily = 7th
- Stevenage Invitational Tournament - Richard = 1st, Emily = 3rd (tied)

In action on Southend Pier's Crazy Golf course

Related blog posts:
- WMF World Minigolf Rankings update
- BMGA minigolf rankings for 2015
- Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
- Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Happy Underdog Day

Happy Underdog Day to ham and eggers, journeymen, jobbers, local competitors, enhancement talent, jabronis, wildcards, also rans, palookas, runners-up, Mr Nobodies, silver medalists, and Average Joes everywhere.

The third Friday in December is the day to celebrate and honour unsung heroes, the second best among us and life’s runners-up. Not to forget those people that have made a name for themselves against the odds.

Meeting Olympic underdog Emanuele Guidi of San Marino (left) at the London 2012 Games

Check out the Dull Men's Club website for more details of Underdog Day.

Related blog posts:
- Underdog Day
- Dull Men's Club
- Day

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Merlin Pirate Adventure Mini Golf in Blackpool

A revisit to the indoor Adventure Golf course on the promenade in Blackpool.

While visiting Blackpool in October we swung by the indoor Adventure Golf course on the promenade. When we played the course in 2009 it was called Golden Isle Adventure Golf.

It's now operated by Merlin and called Pirate Adventure Mini Golf - the same as the outdoor course at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth. Both courses are attached to the Sea Life Centres.

There's a MASSIVE minigolf octopus on the course!

The course was proving popular on our visit which was good to see. Check out the Merlin Pirate Aventure Mini Golf course website for more information on prices and opening times.

Link:
- Merlin Pirate Aventure Mini Golf website

Related blog posts:
- Blackpool
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 151 - Blackpool, Golden Isle Indoor Adventure Golf
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses
- Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses in and around Blackpool

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

This Christmas tree is beyond ludicrous

I've seen some sorry excuses for Christmas trees dotted around the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in recent weeks. But this one on St Petersgate in Stockport town centre is truly ludicrous!

This tree wins Christmas

Related blog posts:
- Christmas Trees

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf

Revisiting the Adventure Golf course at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

On our trip to Blackpool in October we walked passed the Adventure Golf course at the Pleasure Beach.

The Art Deco signage at the course is in keeping with the Casino building at the Pleasure Beach

The course was the scene of my victory in the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open tournament in 2009.

Winning in 2009

We first visited the course in 2008 when we helped with the launch event and inaugural competition - won by minigolf legend Chris Harding.

The course is next to the entrance to the Pleasure Beach

It's great to see the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf course is still proving popular.

My first round in the 2009 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open competition was a 24

Check out the Blackpool Pleasure Beach website for more information on prices and opening times.

There used to be another miniature golf course inside the Pleasure Beach - an Alpine themed one. That was the 46th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Link:
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach website

Related blog posts:
- Blackpool
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses in and around Blackpool

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Shanklin Seafront Pirates Adventure Golf

Visiting the Pirates Cove Adventure Golf course on Shanklin Seafront.

When we arrived at Shanklin Seafront we were faced with a dilemma as we only had time to play one of the two miniature golf courses before they closed for the day. We opted to give the renovated Crazy Golf course a go and leave the Pirates Cove Adventure Golf course until the next time we visit.

  

The Pirate Adventure Golf course was built on the spot where a grass Putting Green used to be. When we visited Shanklin in 2008 the two course layouts were very different.

Shanklin Seafront minigolf courses in 2008

The Pirates Cove Adventure Golf course on Shanklin Seafront became the 708th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

For opening times and prices check out the Shanklin Seafront website.

We also spotted a Shark at the amusement park next to the minigolf courses

And an alligator (or crocodile)

Related blog posts:
- Isle of Wight
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Link:
- Shanklin Seafront website

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.